VAN-COMPARATOR Guide
Renting an RV in Florida: Miami to Key West on the Overseas Highway
RV rental guide for Florida: pick up in Miami or Orlando, drive the Keys to Key West, book state park campgrounds, real dollar prices and the best season.
The drive down the Keys is one of the great road trips of the American East: 112 miles of islands linked by 42 bridges, including the famous Seven Mile Bridge, all the way to Key West, the southernmost point of the continental US. In an RV, it makes a perfect one-week itinerary out of Miami.
Miami or Orlando: where to pick up?
Miami is the obvious start, one hour from Key Largo. But Orlando, Florida’s biggest rental market thanks to the theme parks, is often 10-20% cheaper for the same vehicle: with ten days, picking up in Orlando, driving down via Everglades City and dropping off in Miami (one-way option, expect a $200-400 fee) can be the best deal. Budget $110-180/day for a campervan, $150-250/day for a 25 ft Class C, before mileage: many US rental companies charge around $0.35/mile beyond an allowance, so check that line before comparing.
The stops that matter
- Key Largo: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, snorkelling and RV sites in heavy demand.
- Islamorada and Marathon: village feel, sunsets, Curry Hammock State Park.
- Bahia Honda State Park: the prettiest beach in the Keys; campsites book out 11 months ahead on Reserve America.
- Key West: little parking for big rigs; Boyd’s Campground is the classic base, with a shuttle into town.
Season, budget, pitfalls
Unlike Europe, high season runs November to April: dry weather, 25°C, peak prices. Summer is cheaper but humid and exposed to hurricanes (June-November). A realistic 7-day budget for two: $1,100-1,800 for the rental, $300-450 for campgrounds (private sites in the Keys often top $90/night), $200 in fuel. Wild camping is banned across the entire archipelago and enforced.
Compare before you book
Van-Comparator searches Yescapa, Goboony, Roadsurfer and Indie Campers in one go, with Outdoorsy, RVshare and Cruise America — the big players in the US market — coming soon. To plan the budget, read our guide to renting an RV in the USA and the RV rental prices page.